Manta ray (Manta birostris) feeding on zooplankton by extending its cephalic lobes, Yum Balam Marine Protected Area, Quintana Roo, Mexico, North America

Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) feeding at the surface on zooplankton, mouth open, known as ram feeding, Yum Balam Marine Protected Area, Quintana Roo, Mexico, North America

Male manta ray with almost pure white ventral surface, may be a new species, for now known as Manta alfredi, Yum Balam Marine Protected Area, Quintana Roo, Mexico, North America

Eagle rays (Mobula hypostoma) common in this area and often seen feeding on zooplankton in large groups, Yum Balam Marine Protected Area, Quintana Roo, Mexico, North America

Scientist and whale shark (Rhincodon typus) feeding at the surface on zooplankton, mouth open, known as ram feeding, Yum Balam Marine Protected Area, Quintana Roo, Mexico, North America

Biologist taking skin sample from a whale shark to determine what plankton types the animal has been feeding on, Yum Balam Marine Protected Area, Quintana Roo, Mexico, North America

Scientist free diving to make a photo identification of an individual manta ray (Manta birostris), Yum Balam Marine Protected Area, Quintana Roo, Mexico, North America

A red panda goes down from a tree in a wildlife reserve of India where these animals are protected from poachers, Darjeeling, India, Asia

Manta ray (Manta birostris) feeding on zooplankton by extending its cephalic lobes, Yum Balam Marine Protected Area, Quintana Roo, Mexico, North America

Tourists watch female Bengal tiger, Panthera tigris tigris, in Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India

Bluetit hungry young nestling bird cheeping in a garden bird box, The Cotswolds, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Female Bengal tiger, Panthera tigris tigris, in Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India

Bluetit hungry young nestling bird awaits feeding in a garden bird box, The Cotswolds, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Moorhen's nest, with seven eggs laid, made with twigs among iris plants in a pond in Swinbrook, the Cotswolds, Oxfordshire, UK

Moorhen's nest, with seven eggs laid, made with twigs among iris plants in a pond in Swinbrook, the Cotswolds, Oxfordshire, UK

Bluetit bird feeding hungry young nestling in a garden bird box, The Cotswolds, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Moorhen's nest, with seven eggs laid, made with twigs among iris plants in a pond in Swinbrook, the Cotswolds, Oxfordshire, UK

Bluetit bird feeding hungry young nestling in a garden bird box, The Cotswolds, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Female Bengal tiger, Panthera tigris tigris, in Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India

Chicken penned inside a hen house, Cotswolds, United Kingdom. If Avian Flu (Bird Flu) spreads from Europe all poultry may be forced indoors.

Female Bengal tiger, Panthera tigris tigris, in Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India

Female Bengal tiger, Panthera tigris tigris, in Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India

Female Bengal tiger, Panthera tigris tigris, in Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India

Brahman cow in Ahmedabad, India.

Adult male green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay on the northwest side of the island of Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Jourdan's turban (turbo jourdani) large gastropod shell, reddish-brown, Rottnest Island reef, wild, day, marine protected area, free-diving off, cool temperate waters of Western Australia. MORE INFO: Marine plant common kelp, a dominant feature of the underwater landscape. Protected areas are covered in lush growth of diverse algae, also red algea are here.

western king wrasse (coris auricularis), male, dark pink colour with reddish-brown band running around boby and blue-green colouration over the head, wild, day, marine protected area, diving off Rottnest Island, reef edges, sand, seagrass, Western Australia, Indian Ocean. MORE INFO: social structure where dominant male, usually the biggest in the area, will have a harem of females. When the male dies or is absent for any length of time the largest female will change sex and dominate the group.

tallfin batfish (platax teira), juvenile, wild, day, marine protected area, diving off Coral Bay, Ningaloo reef, Western Australia, Indian Ocean. MORE INFO: with 3 dark bars, very long dorsal, anal and pelvic fins, feed on plankton from water column.

footballer sweep (neatypus obliquus) diagonal yellow bands are edged in black and stand out against the silvery-blue body, wild, day, marine protected area, reef, in small schools diving off Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Indian Ocean. MORE INFO: other name stripey, eating green algae as they sweep over the reef.

cray pot, wild, day, Western Australian rock lobster (panulirus cygnus), marine protected area, free-diving off Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Indian Ocean. MORE INFO: checking pots for crayfish, catch and release if to small or females with eggs.

Western buffalo bream (kyphosus cornelii) silvery brown colour, feeding on seaweed, schools, wild, day, silvery brown colour, marine protected area, diving off Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Indian Ocean. MORE INFO: other name buff bream, lacks the dark edging on the tail fin and dark line under the eye. Restricted to WA as name suggests.

Horseshoe leatherjacket (meuschenia hippocrepis), wild, day, marine protected area, diving off Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Indian Ocean.

Silver drummer (kyphosus sydneyanus) silvery grey colour, feeding on brown seaweed, wild, day, schools, marine protected area, diving off Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Indian Ocean. MORE INFO: other name common buffalo bream, dark tail and a distinctive dark line that looks a little like a moustache below the eye, occur in large schools. Distribution more widespread throughout Australia.

Western buffalo bream (kyphosus cornelii) silvery brown colour, feeding on seaweed, schools, wild, day, silvery brown colour, marine protected area, diving off Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Indian Ocean. MORE INFO: other name buff bream, lacks the dark edging on the tail fin and dark line under the eye. Restricted to WA as name suggests.

Silver drummer (kyphosus sydneyanus) silvery grey colour, feeding on brown seaweed, wild, day, schools, marine protected area, diving off Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Indian Ocean. MORE INFO: other name common buffalo bream, dark tail and a distinctive dark line that looks a little like a moustache below the eye, occur in large schools. Distribution more widespread throughout Australia.

Southern blue devil (paraplesiops meleagris), wild, day, solitary, bottom dwelling specie, marine protected area, diving off Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Indian Ocean.

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

bengal sergeant (abudefduf bengalensis) wild, day, marine protected area, diving off Coral Bay, Ningaloo reef, Western Australia, Indian Ocean. MORE INFO: has rounded, white-edged tail lobes.

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Common shore crab (Carcinus maenas), Angus, Scotland, UK

Southern blue devil (paraplesiops meleagris), wild, day, solitary, bottom dwelling specie, marine protected area, diving off Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Indian Ocean.

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Snorkeler with adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay on the northwest side of the island of Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult male green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay on the northwest side of the island of Maui, Hawaii, USA

Snorkeler with adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay on the northwest side of the island of Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Snorkeler with adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay on the northwest side of the island of Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Olive ridley turtle hatchling, Lepidochelys olivacea, Costa do Sauipe, Bahia, Brazil (South Atlantic)

Olive ridley turtle hatchling, Lepidochelys olivacea, Costa do Sauipe, Bahia, Brazil (South Atlantic)

Strawberry Poison Frog (Dendrobates pumilio), adult, Bastimentos National Park, Bocas del Toro, Panama. The strawberry poison frog or strawberry poison-dart frog (Oophaga pumilio or Dendrobates pumilio) is a species of small amphibian poison dart frog found in Central America. It is common throughout its range, which extends from eastern central Nicaragua through Costa Rica and northwestern Panama. The species is often found in humid lowlands and premontane forest, but large populations are also found in disturbed areas such as plantations. The strawberry poison frog is perhaps most famous for its widespread variation in coloration, comprising approximately 15���30 color morphs, most of which are presumed to be true-breeding. O. pumilio, while not the most poisonous of the dendrobatids, is the most toxic member of its genus. The species is most diverse in Panama with varieties in vivid shades of all red, orange, blue, yellow or green, green and yellow, white with red, orange or black and spotted varieties. The most colorful mix is found in Isla Bastimentos Marine National Park though not all in one place. Colors vary by location. A beach on the north side of the island is named after the species. Two of Southern Explorations' Panama tours visit red frog habitat. Both the eight-day Panama Adventure trip and eleven-day Panama Highlights trip spend time in Isla Bastimentos Marine National Park and the former also goes to Red Frog Beach. The red frog is not as poisonous as some of its cousins and is not a threat to humans. It subsists on a diet of ants that dine on poisonous plants, providing the red frog its protective skin toxin. Males attract females with a loud quick chirp. To hear the distinctive sound before you depart on your Panama tours, go to the University of Michigan Museum's biodiversity website (www.animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu.) After birth, the tadpoles climb aboard the mother who deposits them in different protected areas where she retu

Giant clam, Tridacna gigas, siphon detail, Rongelap, Marshall Islands, Micronesia

Southern Right Whale

Starry night octopus, Octopus luteus, foraging on coral reef at night, Malapascua, Cebu, Philippines, Visayan Sea.

Horseshoe clam, Hippopus hippopus, Rongelap, Marshall Islands, Micronesia

French angelfish, Pomacanthus paru, Ilha rata, Fernando de Noronha national marine sanctuary, Pernambuco, Brazil (S. Atlantic)

Guanacos (Lama guanicoe) Guanaco in the Wild, Perito Moreno National Park, Southern Andean Patagonia, Santa Cruz, Argentina

Reef octopus, Octopus cyanea, eye and siphon detail, Rongelap, Marshall Islands, Micronesia

Red Fox (Pseudalopex culpaeus), Perito Moreno National Park, Southern Andean Patagonia, Santa Cruz, Argentina

Leaping Southern Right Whale, (Eubalaena australis), Golfo Nuevo, Chubut, Patagonia, Argentina

Imperial cormorant (Phalacrocorax atriceps), Tuckers Islets, Whiteside Canal, PN Alberto de Agostini, Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia, Chile

Traro (Caracara plancus), Tuckers Islets, Whiteside Canal, PN Alberto de Agostini, Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia, Chile

Cougar

Sheep South Island New Zealand

Two sand tiger sharks, Odontaspis taurus, USA, California, San Diego, SeaWorld

Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias, Mexico, Pacific ocean, Guadalupe

Beluga whale in seen through window, Delphinapterus leucas, USA, California, San Diego, SeaWorld

Child looking at Beluga whale, Delphinapterus leucas, USA, California, San Diego, SeaWorld

Sand tiger shark, Odontaspis taurus, USA, California, San Diego, SeaWorld

Animal roof guardians, mythological creatures guarding the Golden Hall, Jin Dian Gong, Golden Palace Temple, protected against lightning strikes by an iron cage, summit 1613 metres high, Mount Wudang, Wudang Shan, Taoist mountain, Hubei province, UNESCO world cultural heritage site, birthplace of Tai chi, China

Sibirian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) portrait young

Bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus, Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, Africa

Short-horned chameleon (Calumma brevicorne), male, Analamazoatra, Andasibe National Park, Madagascar, Africa

Panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) Male, Ambanja, Northwest Madagascar, Madagascar, Africa

Labord's chameleon (Furcifer labordi), male, Kirindy National Park, Madagascar, Africa

Panther chameleon (Furcifer Pardalis), male on branch, Ambilobe, Diana, Madagascar, Africa

Elena's Madagascar rudder frog on one leaf, leaf frog (Boophis elenae), Andasibe National Park, Madagascar, Africa

African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), adult, alert, resting, animal portrait, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Kruger National Park, South Africa, Africa